Boris Johnson could return as an MP and even join the Cabinet, David Cameron
said today, as he embraced his former rival ahead of the next election.

The Prime Minister said that Mr Johnson could be “very good” for the Government, after hearing the Mayor of London back his leadership in a conference speech. He has said that he will support the mayor if he wants to stand as an MP in 2015.

It prompted speculation that the pair may have reached an understanding whereby Mr Johnson succeeds him as Conservative leader in exchange for remaining loyal in the build-up to the election. Following the speech today, the Prime Minister went backstage and hugged the mayor.

He later denied that any “deal” had been done but indicated that he would be prepared to give Mr Johnson a Cabinet position if he becomes an MP.

Despite the show of loyalty, Mr Johnson dropped hints that he has ambitions to lead the party.

He referred to Alain Juppé, the former French prime minister, and said: “He told me that he was now the mayor of Bordeaux – I think he may have been mayor of Bordeaux when he was prime minister. It’s the kind of thing they do in France.” Mr Johnson joked that the French system was a “good idea”.

When asked later if he wants to lead the Conservatives, Mr Johnson said: “My leadership chances are, as I may have told you before, about as good as my chances of being reincarnated as a baked bean.” But he added: “Which are probably quite high actually.” He then refused to rule out running in the 2015 election. The Prime Minister has been overshadowed by Mr Johnson at previous conferences. In his speech yesterday the mayor urged party activists to “cut the yellow Lib Dem albatross from around our necks” by helping Mr Cameron to an outright victory in 2015.

The Prime Minister told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that he would give Mr Johnson a “warm welcome” if he returned to Westminster politics.

“My message to him is that … it would be great to have you back in the House of Commons at some stage contributing to public life,” Mr Cameron said.

He later said that “it’s not for me to pick my successor [and] the Conservative Party will do that when the time comes.”

He told Five News: “He’s a very talented member of the team and I like the fact that I have got talent on the team. That is good for the Conservative Party and potentially very good for the Government.”

Mr Cameron said he has had “conversations” with the mayor about the possibility of him returning to Westminster.

“Boris and I talk all the time,” he said. “There is no agreement or deal or anything like that but we have friendly conversations about this but my view about this is very simple – it’s up to Boris.”

Mr Cameron also said he would be putting himself “forward for a full term” in the 2015 election.

Despite backing Mr Cameron, the mayor used his speech to criticise George Osborne, the Chancellor, over the “baleful” impact of stamp duty. He said it is “stamping on the fingers” of people trying to climb the property ladder.

He also said that British young people lack the motivation and work ethic of Eastern European immigrants. He backed comments by Jamie Oliver, the television chef, and said the Government needs to encourage teenagers to see “menial” jobs as “stepping stones”.

Mr Johnson praised the prime minister as the “only statesman in the European Union” capable of delivering reform and a referendum for the British. He said that voters will have to choose between the “fool’s gold” offered by Labour and a Conservative Party that has taken “difficult and sensible” decisions.